THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 19 



1895, pending action on formal applications for license to ship milk 

 into the District of Columbia, Dr. Woodward explains that such 

 delays have been due to the fact that it has come to be clearly demon- 

 strated and generally recognized that milk from any herd that has 

 not been tuberculin tested is dangerous to the public health unless 

 effectually pasteurized, and that while, in his judgment, the appli- 

 cants in such cases have complied substantially with the requirements 

 of the District laws and regulations, he does not feel, in the absence 

 of authority and means to apply such tests, that the applications 

 should be rejected, but has taken the position that action thereon 

 should be suspended pending the adoption of some general measure 

 looking toward the compulsory tuberculin testing of all cows supply- 

 ing milk to the District, and the alternative compulsory pasteuriza- 

 tion of inilk from all cows not so tested. 



The appended statement, furnished by the health department (Ap- 



Eendix K), shows that the number of permits in force June 30, 1905, 

 or maintaining dairies in the District of Columbia was 285; 179 

 applications having been received since that date to the end of the 

 fiscal year closing June 30, 1910, and 95 permits having been granted 

 in response to these applications. The number of licensed dairies 

 (not dairy farms) in the District on June 30, 1905, was 140, 1 as op- 

 posed to 58 at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910. On 

 the same date, namely, June 30, 1905, 102 permits for maintaining 

 dairy farms in the District were in force, 80 applications for this 

 purpose having since been received, 28 of which were approved. The 

 number of licensed dairy farms located within the boundaries of the 

 District on June 30. 1905, was 102, as compared with 52 on June 30, 

 1910. On June 30, 1905, 974 permits were in force for bringing milk 

 or cream into the District, 1,485 additional applications having been 

 received during the subsequent five-year period and 325 permits 

 granted. 



By referring to the health officer's letter of November 23, 1910 

 (see Appendix K), it will be observed that milk was produced and 

 shipped into the District of Columbia from 918 farms during the 

 fiscal year 1905-6, as opposed to 1,091 farms in the fiscal year 1909-10. 

 showing an increase of 178 farms, a percentage of 18.8 in five years. 

 The number of licensed dairy farms at present furnishing milk to 

 the District of Columbia is 1,142. 



In addition to the farms in Maryland, Virginia, and the District 

 of Columbia furnishing milk for local consumption, some shipments, 

 particularly of cream, are received from farms in Pennsylvania, New 

 York, and New Jersey. The dairy farms in Maryland and Virginia 

 shipping milk to Washington are under the direct surveillance of 

 the District health department, and are subject to periodic inspection. 

 It has not been possible, however, with the funds available for the 

 purpose to inspect farms in Pennsylvania, New York, and New 

 Jersey, which latter are, however, supplying milk to the District 

 without license, by virtue of a provision in the act of March 2, 1895, 



1 From the number of 285 licenses extant on June 30, 1905, should be deducted those 

 issued to 102 dairy farms (it being customary to issue dairy licenses also to dairy farms) 

 and 43 importers' permits (which were similarly included at that time) that is to say. 

 permits issued to dairy farmers outside the District of Columbia for shipping milk into 

 Washington. From the remaining number of 140, stated in the text, should be deducted 

 also a number of grocery and other establishments which have since surrendered their 

 permits, an interpretation of the act of March 2, 1895, allowing such establishments tQ 

 dispense milk without permit or license, 



